TARLAC CITY—Gov. Susan A.

Yap stressed she wants an inclusive growth and human development to

sustain the economic progress and limit the effects of poverty in this northernmost Central Luzon
province.

Economy

The economy of Tarlac is dominantly agricultural. Principal crops are rice and sugarcane. Other major
crops are corn and coconut; vegetables such as eggplant, garlic, and onion; and fruit trees like
mango, banana, and calamansi.

Because the province is landlocked, its fish production is limited to fishponds. On the boundary with
Zambales in the west, forest lands provide timber for the logging industry. Mineral reserves such as
manganese and iron can also be found along the western section.

Tarlac has its own rice and corn mills as well as sawmills and logging outfits. It has three sugar
centrals. Other firms service agricultural needs such as fertilizer. Among its cottage industries,
ceramics making has become important because of the abundant supply of clay. Some of the major
industries here are the making of the delicious and famous Chicharon and Iniruban in the municipality
of Camiling, Ylang Ylang products of Anao and the Muscovado sugar products of Victoria. Besides
those products, the province also boosts its sugar products in the Philippines. It is next to Negros
Occidental which is the nation's sugar capital. Tilapia is also improving in Tarlac and it will soon be the
Tilapia capital of the Philippines.